chevy trailblazer EXT

Any feedback on the Trailblazer, I'm looking at a kid hauler for the family, Liz wants the third row seat, I'd love to have another vehicle to tow the boats. It has the   Vortec 4200 inline 6, 4wd, and a towing capacity of about 5000 lbs, (I don't know which axle ratio it has).

I personally shudder at the shape of one after towing much, even a light boat often.

Plus the ride sucks. Towing or not.

I never liked the feel of the engine management, fly by wire. I loved it when the "reduced engine power" light came on. WTF?
Lots have it now, and works better.

Eric, the truck is still going strong, can't kill a chevy!

I have a 2006 same setup as you describe with 125k miles that my wife drives and it has not given me any issues - one inhernt thing I have read about though is the water pump. The only normal item that needs to be done is clean the throttle butterfly which can be done in about 15 minutes. They have a PCV type line there and it carbons up the butterfly causing the idle to be erratic. As for performance my boat is close to 4,500lbs including trailer, gas, ski gear, and everything in there for a day on the water and it pulls OK, I always keep it in 3rd when pulling though and the rearend is 3.73. My regular Trailblazer is the same setup with 3.42 rearend and it pulls fine as well.

All the driveline components are the same as 1/2ton pickup so I don't see how it is a major issue on the driveline.

Makes a nice looking rig: